Method and system for optimal beamforming in wireless networks

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for optimal beamforming in a wireless network are presented. Aspects of the system may include one or more processors for use in a requesting communication device wherein the one or more processors may be operable to request a transmission time slot allocation. A determination may be made by a coordinating communication device as whether to assign a sector transmission time slot and/or beamforming transmission time slot to the requesting communication device based on the transmission time slot allocation request. The one or more processors may be operable to receive the assigned sector transmission time slot and/or beamforming transmission time slot.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A communication method, comprising:
 receiving, at an originating device, a clear-to-send (CTS) transmission transmitted by a destination device in response to a request-to-sent (RTS) transmission;   receiving, at the originating device, a training sequence directionally transmitted by the destination device; and   transmitting a protocol data unit (PDU) from the originating device to the destination device after receipt of the training sequence at the originating device.   
     
     
         22 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the originating device, an acknowledgment from the destination device after transmission of the PDU.   
     
     
         23 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , wherein the originating device and the destination device communicate asynchronously. 
     
     
         24 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , wherein the destination device sends the acknowledgment after receipt of part of the PDU. 
     
     
         25 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 transmitting a training sequence from the originating device to the destination device after receiving the CTS transmission.   
     
     
         26 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , wherein the originating device transmits the RTS transmission together with a training sequence. 
     
     
         27 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , wherein the RTS transmission is directionally transmitted by the originating device. 
     
     
         28 . The communication method according to  claim 27 , wherein the destination device is located in one of a plurality of sectors, and the originating device directionally transmits the RTS transmission to each of the plurality of sectors until receiving the CTS transmission from the destination device. 
     
     
         29 . The communication method according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 incrementing, at the originating device, a sector counter when the CTS transmission is not received from the destination device; and   transmitting the RTS transmission, by the originating device, to another sector.   
     
     
         30 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , wherein the RTS transmission is omnidirectionally transmitted by the originating device. 
     
     
         31 . The communication method according to  claim 30 , wherein the RTS includes identification of the destination device. 
     
     
         32 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , wherein the CTS transmission is omnidirectionally transmitted by the destination device. 
     
     
         33 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , wherein the CTS transmission is directionally transmitted by the destination device. 
     
     
         34 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , wherein one of the RTS transmission and the CTS transmission is transmitted omnidirectionally and another of the RTS transmission and the CTS transmission is transmitted directionally. 
     
     
         35 . The communication method according to  claim 21 , wherein both the RTS transmission and the CTS transmission are transmitted directionally. 
     
     
         36 . A communication device comprising:
 circuitry configured to   receive a clear-to-send (CTS) transmission transmitted by a destination device in response to a request-to-sent (RTS) transmission;   receive a training sequence directionally transmitted by the destination device; and   transmit a protocol data unit (PDU) to the destination device after receipt of the training sequence at the originating device.   
     
     
         37 . The communication device according to  claim 36 , wherein one of the RTS transmission and the CTS transmission is transmitted omnidirectionally and another of the RTS transmission and the CTS transmission is transmitted directionally. 
     
     
         38 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions thereon that, when executed by circuitry, cause the circuitry to perform a method comprising:
 receiving, at an originating device, a clear-to-send (CTS) transmission transmitted by a destination device in response to a request-to-sent (RTS) transmission;   receiving, at the originating device, a training sequence directionally transmitted by the destination device; and   transmitting a protocol data unit (PDU) from the originating device to the destination device after receipt of the training sequence at the originating device.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 38 , wherein one of the RTS transmission and the CTS transmission is transmitted omnidirectionally and another of the RTS transmission and the CTS transmission is transmitted directionally.